Modest Accessible Garment

ABSTRACT

A garment having two leg pieces joined into a trouser, with a waistband disposed around the top of the garment. A seat is connected at the bottom of the seat to the tops of the two leg pieces, but is not connected at the sides of the seat to the leg pieces, and also is not connected at the top of the seat to the waistband. Drawstrings are connected at one end of each drawstring to the top corners of the seat. The drawstrings are used to selectively release the seat into a dropped position when the drawstrings are disengaged one from another, and to tighten and retain the seat in a raised position when the drawstrings are engaged one with another.

This application claims priority on prior pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/230,541 filed 2015 Jun. 10, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This invention relates to the field of clothing. More particularly, this invention relates to a garment such as worn by a patient in a hospital.

FIELD

The designs of certain garments try to fill market segments that have competing design goals. One such market segment is clothing for a patient or recuperating person, where various goals are trying to be met, such as convenient access to the patient's body by medical personnel or others for observation and treatment, access to the body for tubes and lines for monitoring, waste, or dosing, and possibly the inability for the patient to not have the strength or mobility to wear or be comfortable in traditional clothing.

Perhaps antithetical to many—if not all—of these goals is a final goal of maintaining the privacy or modesty of the patient. This is the goal at which most patient garments fail the worst. For example, in the case of the hospital gown, half of the population—males—tend to feel uneasy from the start with the prospect of wearing a gown and having their legs exposed in that manner. Virtually everyone feels uncomfortable with the exposed back of a hospital gown, which leads to the common adaptation of wearing two gowns, one worn as designed and the other worn backwards, to preserve modesty.

However, the hospital gown remains ubiquitous because it meets other goals for the garment, such as access, and the ability for a patient to use personal hygiene or waste facilities easily when injury might make such use extremely difficult if traditional clothing were to be worn, such as pants.

What is needed, therefore, is a garment that reduces issues such as those described above, at least in part.

Claims

The above and other needs are met by a garment having two leg pieces joined into a trouser, with a waistband disposed around the top of the garment. A seat is connected at the bottom of the seat to the tops of the two leg pieces, but is not connected at the sides of the seat to the leg pieces, and also is not connected at the top of the seat to the waistband. Drawstrings are connected at one end of each drawstring to the top corners of the seat. The drawstrings are used to selectively release the seat into a dropped position when the drawstrings are disengaged one from another, and to tighten and retain the seat in a raised position when the drawstrings are engaged one with another.

In various embodiments, passageways are disposed near the waistband at sides of the garment, through which the drawstrings pass, and which guide the seat into the raised position as the drawstrings are tightened. In some embodiments, the seat is selectively attached to the garment at sides of the seat by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces. In some embodiments, the waistband is formed of an elastic material. In some embodiments, an opening is disposed approximately half-way along at least one of the two leg pieces and in an inner position of the at least one of the two leg pieces. In some embodiments, a fly is disposed in a front of the garment and at a top of the garment between the two leg pieces. In some embodiments, the fly is selectively retained in a closed position by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces. In some embodiments, the leg pieces are of a length to extend to feet of a person wearing the garment. In some embodiments, the leg pieces are of a length to extend to the knees of a person wearing the garment. In some embodiments, pockets are disposed in at least one of the two leg pieces.

DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear quarter view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side detail view of a garment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the figures, there is depicted a garment 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention. The garment 100 takes the basic form of a trouser. In some embodiments, the garment 100 is cut with a generally looser fit than a traditional trouser, such as a pajama might be cut, so as to allow for greater comfort, mobility, and access.

In some embodiments the garment 100 includes a waistband 102. In some embodiments the waistband 102 extends completely around the top of the garment 100, and in other embodiments the waistband 102 extends only across the back of the garment 100, such as between two side seams across the lower back of the patient. In some embodiments the waistband 102 can provide tension at the top of the garment 100, such as by being drawn together with ties, or by being elasticized in some manner.

The seat of the garment 100 is not attached at the top and sides in the manner of a traditional trouser. Specifically, the top of the seat is not connected to the waistband 102, and the sides of the seat have a gap 108. In this manner, the seat of the garment 100 can be loosened and dropped down, falling away from the sides and waistband 102 of the garment 100.

The selective dropping and raising of the seat of the garment 100 is accomplished by drawstrings 114 that can be selectively loosed and tightened, such as in the front of the garment 100. In some embodiments, the drawstrings 114 attach to the seat of the pants such as at the top corners of the seat, near the waistband and near the side seams. In some embodiments, the drawstring 114 feeds through two passageways 118 that are disposed at either side of the garment 100, such as near the waistband 102 and near the side seam of the garment 100. In various embodiments the passageways 118 take the form of one or more of grommets, slits, flaps, folds, loops, hooks, and so forth.

By loosening the drawstrings 114 in the front of the garment 100, the seat of the garment 100 drops down from the waistband 102, such as under the force of gravity, so that the buttocks of the patient are revealed and accessible, such as to use a toilet, replace a diaper, clean the patient, or other purposes. Tightening the drawstrings 114 in the front of the garment 100 causes the seat of the garment 100 to be pulled back up toward the waistband 102. However, because the waistband 102 extends completely around the patient, raising and lowering the seat does not cause the garment 100 to fall off the patient, but instead the garment 100 is retained in place.

The drawstrings 114 can be tied one to another in the front of the garment 100, thus retaining the seat of the garment 100 in the upright position. In various embodiments, the drawstrings 114 can be retained one to another using some other attachment device 112, such as a button, clip, snap, hook, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, laces, and so forth.

In some embodiments the waistband 102 extends in an unbroken manner completely around the circumference of the top of the garment 100. In other embodiments, the waistband 102 is broken in front, such as to provide for additional access for the patient, or to make the garment 100 easier to put on or take off. In various embodiments, the break in the waistband 102 can be secured such as by a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, laces, and so forth. In some embodiments a fly access slit 122 is provided, such as in the front of the garment 100. In some embodiments the fly 122 is aligned with a break in the waistband 102. In various embodiments, the fly 122 can be retained in a closed position such as by a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, laces, and so forth.

When the seat of the garment 100 is in an upright and secured position, the open sides 108 of the garment 100 can be held closed for additional modesty such as by attachments 106 and 110, which in various embodiments take the form of one or more of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, laces, and so forth. In some embodiments the garment 100 includes pockets 116, which in the embodiments depicted are front patch pockets, but in other embodiments are rear pockets or side pockets, either patch or internal, or combinations of these embodiments. In some embodiments the legs of the garment 100 extend a full length, such as a long-legged trouser, and in other embodiments legs of the garment 100 are abbreviated, such as shorts.

In some embodiments, openings 120 are included, such as in one or both of the legs of the garment 100, which openings 120 can serve as passageways through the garment 100 for items such as catheter tubes, drainage tubes, medical dosing tubes, instrumentation leads, and so forth. In various embodiments, the openings 120 are disposed slightly above where a knee would be in the garment 100, and toward the inside of the leg of the garment 100.

The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 

1. A garment, comprising: two leg pieces joined into a trouser, a waistband disposed around the top of the garment, a seat connected at the bottom thereof to tops of the two leg pieces, and not connected at the sides thereof to the leg pieces, and not connected at the top thereof to the waistband, and drawstrings connected at one end to top corners of the seat, for selectively releasing the seat into a dropped position when the drawstrings are disengaged one from another, and selectively tightening and retaining the seat in a raised position when the drawstrings are engaged one to another.
 2. The garment of claim 1, further comprising passageways disposed near the waistband at sides of the garment, through which the drawstrings pass, and which guide the seat into the raised position as the drawstrings are tightened.
 3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the seat is selectively attached to the garment at sides of the seat by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the waistband is formed of an elastic material.
 5. The garment of claim 1, further comprising an opening disposed approximately half-way along at least one of the two leg pieces and in an inner position of the at least one of the two leg pieces.
 6. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a fly disposed in a front of the garment and at a top of the garment between the two leg pieces.
 7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the fly is selectively retained in a closed position by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces.
 8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the leg pieces are of a length to extend to feet of a person wearing the garment.
 9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the leg pieces are of a length to extend to the knees of a person wearing the garment.
 10. The garment of claim 1, further comprising pockets disposed in at least one of the two leg pieces.
 11. A garment, comprising: two leg pieces joined into a trouser, a waistband disposed around the top of the garment, a seat connected at the bottom thereof to tops of the two leg pieces, and not connected at the sides thereof to the leg pieces, and not connected at the top thereof to the waistband, drawstrings connected at one end to top corners of the seat, for selectively releasing the seat into a dropped position when the drawstrings are disengaged one from another, and selectively tightening and retaining the seat in a raised position when the drawstrings are engaged one to another, passageways disposed near the waistband at sides of the garment, through which the drawstrings pass, and which guide the seat into the raised position as the drawstrings are tightened, and an opening disposed approximately half-way along at least one of the two leg pieces and in an inner position of the at least one of the two leg pieces.
 12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the seat is selectively attached to the garment at sides of the seat by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces.
 13. The garment of claim 11, wherein the waistband is formed of an elastic material.
 14. The garment of claim 11, further comprising a fly disposed in a front of the garment and at a top of the garment between the two leg pieces.
 15. The garment of claim 14, wherein the fly is selectively retained in a closed position by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces.
 16. The garment of claim 11, wherein the leg pieces are of a length to extend to feet of a person wearing the garment.
 17. The garment of claim 11, wherein the leg pieces are of a length to extend to the knees of a person wearing the garment.
 18. The garment of claim 11, further comprising pockets disposed in at least one of the two leg pieces.
 19. A garment, comprising: two leg pieces joined into a trouser, a waistband disposed around the top of the garment, the waistband formed of an elastic material, a seat connected at the bottom thereof to tops of the two leg pieces, and not connected at the sides thereof to the leg pieces, and not connected at the top thereof to the waistband, drawstrings connected at one end to top corners of the seat, for selectively releasing the seat into a dropped position when the drawstrings are disengaged one from another, and selectively tightening and retaining the seat in a raised position when the drawstrings are engaged one to another, passageways disposed near the waistband at sides of the garment, through which the drawstrings pass, and which guide the seat into the raised position as the drawstrings are tightened, an opening disposed approximately half-way along at least one of the two leg pieces and in an inner position of the at least one of the two leg pieces, a fly disposed in a front of the garment and at a top of the garment between the two leg pieces, and pockets disposed in at least one of the two leg pieces.
 20. The garment of claim 19, wherein the fly is selectively retained in a closed position by at least one of a button, clip, snap, hook, ties, VELCRO™ patches, zipper, and laces. 